McCartney laments goal-line drop

NORMAN, Okla. — Ivan McCartney didn’t blame the Oklahoma safety racing toward him or the glare of the stadium lights that caused him to temporarily lose track of Paul Millard’s pass.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

WVU’s Ivan McCartney (85) made this third-quarter catch against Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez, but later dropped a potential touchdown pass.

When it came to the third-quarter throw that slipped through his hands at the goal line, McCartney blamed himself.

“No excuses, I dropped the ball.”

On second-and-10 from the Oklahoma 37, McCartney blew past cornerback Zack Sanchez with a stop-and-go move. Though the pass came a tick too late—allowing time for OU safety Gabe Lynn to converge—Millard still delivered a deep ball that found McCartney in stride. With WVU trailing 13-7, it could have been the go-ahead score, but became merely an incompletion.

“I felt like that was it—it was touchdown,” McCartney said. “Momentum was fixing to change, we were fixing to all lock in, and we were going to take the game. Like I said, no excuses. I should have caught the ball.”

WVU overcame the ensuing third-and-10 with a 12-yard screen pass to Wendell Smallwood. After a holding penalty brought up third-and-20 at the 35, Millard found Kevin White on a crossing route that appeared to pick up a first down—at least until Quentin Hayes stripped the ball loose as White went to the turf. Lynn scooped it up at the 14-yard-line and returned it out to the 41.

“We have to get better on our mental mistakes,” said McCartney. “It wasn’t the play-calling, it wasn’t the fact that it was a good defense. We beat ourselves—point blank.”

Allan Taylor

Allan Taylor joined MetroNews in August 2012, following 18 years of newspaper, magazine and multimedia work as an SEC columnist, sports editor, assistant sports editor, managing editor, news reporter and media consultant.

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Comments

cutty77

22% on 3rd Down. Last year we 45% I know its only 2 games but i don't like the ways its trending. You can't keep the fricking defense on the Field all the time.

September 12, 2013 at 9:59 am |

Kathrin

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mccartney pulled away from ball when he saw d-back moving in. All I need to know. May have been difference in game.

September 10, 2013 at 9:45 pm |

westfair518

I am glad the Coach H. is reopening the QB position. Several people have commented that Childress "has" the most potential,

September 10, 2013 at 8:51 pm |

Dutchman

Why is it I cringe every time WVU is receiving a punt? It seems that bonehead mental errors happen more often than they normally should. Against OU, BOTH running into the kicker AND a fumbled return occurred. These things are SO basic to the fundamentals of the game it really makes you scratch your head. How does WVU expect to compete in the Big XII making those kind of mistakes? Those two plays and McCartney's dropped TD pass cost the Mountaineers the game. One good sign: The 'D' is back. But Millard is way too inconsistent and a non-threat running. He just never seems comfortable. Time to give Trickett or Childress a shot against Georgia State.

September 10, 2013 at 2:40 pm |

Bill

Comparing Millard and Trickett (though Trickett has seen so little action) - Trickett has the strongest arm and an arrow straight throw. I say give him a game to see how he does. Millard has drove too many balls into the grass or sailed them over the hands of the receivers. And WHY? Horgy didn't give Trickett the last series just to give him some game time I will never know!??? We already lost the game!

September 10, 2013 at 2:22 pm |

Bruce

Did no one here who is speaking positively about Millard see the look
on his face, the look in his eyes, while under center ( on TV of course )? He's not D1 material, plain and simple.

September 10, 2013 at 12:03 pm |

Gunga Din

This is why WVU will finish near the bottom of the B12 this year.

September 10, 2013 at 11:59 am |

'68 Bob

Millard is a good kid but as others have said, seems to lack the arm strength and football accumen to lead and pinpoint receivers also evidenced by his hesitant throws. Granted playing time will help but I do not think the fans nor Holgerson can stomach it. Also, special teams need work so let the so called expert, backward hat Joe go, especially in light of the OSU SI investigation.

September 10, 2013 at 11:42 am |

Bob

I've said from the start Ford Childress should be the QB. Has the height, weight, arm strength to get the job done. What does height have to do with it, well he can see over his offensive line. Weight, well he can punish defensive backs if he chooses to run. Arm strength, can get us the downfield big plays like Geno could do. I don't dislike the other two QB's and will support whomever the coach picks, this is just my opinion.

September 10, 2013 at 10:58 am |

JHT

I have already let it (drop pass) go. Time to focus on Georgia State. The young man just dropped it. However, Millard needs to accept some off the responsibility too. It (pass) looked a little late as the article stated. I tend to agree with Lewis, his arm strength just doesn't seem that strong. I expect that Coach will play at least Trickett. We'll see......GO EERS

September 9, 2013 at 6:01 pm |

JOEL

McCartney has done nothing at WVU.

Can't believe he's starting. Tells us how far the WR position is from last year's team.

September 9, 2013 at 4:00 pm |

KdubV

Overall, there were 3 weaknesses last night. Quarterback play. Linebackers containing their QB on the zone read, and special teams. Hey Holgorsen, how's the " best special teams coach in the country " working out ? Rule 1 on punt/ kick returns= SECURE the ball ! Thompson week one, Aldord week two. WOW

September 8, 2013 at 10:25 pm |

Sam

FWIW, I'm a Sam, and I've been posting on this site from time to time using Sam. The Sam who posted above is not me. I'm a much more laid back poster. I'll either change the required name, or I'll stop posting. I just assumed, wrongly of course, that if I gave my first name and it was accepted, that the wvmetronews software would make another Sam differentiate himself some way.

On second thought, there isn't anything I need to respond to on this site, as it's really just entertainment, so from this Sam, "Goodbye"